Abstract: In order to evaluate the nutrition value and heavy metal pollution of the edible parts of Coelomactra antiquata, the adductor muscle, mantle, foot, gill and visceral mass of Coelomactra antiquate from the Yellow Sea near Rizhao, the East Sea near Zhangzhou and a certain Vietnamese sea area of the Beibu Gulf (adjacent to the sea off the coast of Beihai in Guangxi) were analyzed for Ag, As, Cd, Cr, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, Se, Sn and Zn contents by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) after digestion with mixed HNO3-HClO4  acid. The average spike recovery rates for the metal elements varied from 78.3% to 112.1% with relative standard deviations between 0.16% and 7.64%. Coelomactra antiquate was rich in essential trace elements such as Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, and Se and a small amount of Ag and Sn. The majority of the elements under investigation showed a significant difference in their contents in the different parts of Coelomactra antiquate from the same sea area (P＜0.05). The mantle and visceral mass of Coelomactra antiquate from the sea near Rizhao contained significantly more Fe than other tissues and all tissues of Coelomactra antiquate from other two sea areas. The contents of As and Cd in Coelomactra antiquata exceeded the limits stipulated by the national hygiene standards, while Cd content was below the limits stipulated by the World Health Organization, Australia and Hong Kong. 

Key words: Coelomactra antiquata, trace element, edible parts